The OM System OM-1 is a post-Olympus flagship camera. OM Digital Solutions, the new company formed after Olympus sold off its camera business to a Japanese investment fund, has announced its first camera. The OM System OM-1 is a flagship Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera that serves as a successor to previous high-end Olympus models like the O-MD E-M1 Mark III.
The OM-1 name will be a familiar one to Olympus shooters a 35mm SLR camera with the same name launched the OM line in 1972. The new OM System OM-1 still has the Olympus name on the body, though the company tells DPreview that this is likely to be the last model where that’s the case.
The OM-1 has a new 20-megapixel stacked CMOS sensor and an updated CPU that allows it to capture stills at 50 frames per second with autofocus and autoexposure, or up to 120 frames per second when utilising the electronic shutter with certain Pro-series lenses attached. The OM-1 can also record 4K video at 60 frames per second for up to 90 minutes on a single battery or two hours when powered by an external source.
The body has been modified, yet it still resembles prior Olympus cameras. It has an IP53 rating for weather sealing. The viewfinder now boasts a 5.76 million-dot OLED monitor, and there’s a 1.62 million-dot 3-inch articulating touchscreen with a redesigned menu system.
At $2,199 (Approx. Rs. 1,70,000) for the body alone and $2,799 (Apprx. Rs. 2,10,00) in a kit with a refreshed 12-40mm f/2.8 lens, the new OM-1 is likely to be a hard sell for photographers who aren’t already invested in Olympus cameras. But it also looks like a big upgrade for those who are it’s a significant overhaul that brings the Micro Four Thirds line up to date and suggests the new ownership is serious about continuing Olympus’ legacy. The availability in India is yet to be confirmed.
